deep playa at night

[rgk]

Can anyone relate any experience of sitting for an extended period of time in the middle of the deep playa in the middle of the night?

Is it scary? Exciting? Peaceful? Boring? Dangerous?

[junglesmacks]

Do it and get back to us.

[ygmir]

how deep?

[rgk]

I'd say halfway, maybe two-thirds, between the trash fence and the outer edge of the city. It's hard for me to say, because I've never attended Burning Man. All the way out? The darker, the deeper, the better.

[Elderberry]

John likes to go out deep in the playa. We take our big fur coats and a blanket to put on the ground and put our bikes on two sides of us lit with glow so we don't get run over laying there.

It's definitely interesting. And inevitably there are others out roaming just as far, but they only come close enough to see who's there and are once again on their way.

One time this guy was out walking and was just exhausted and said he wished he would have biked out. As luck would have it, we passed a green bike someone left out there and were able to direct him to it.

[phil]

I'm sorry to say that the experience depends on what you put into it. Therefore, my telling you about my experience won't relate even remotely to yours because we bring different things to put in.

[Clar-i-ty]

Don't be a dark wad! It's a quick way to become a speed bump. Just take water with you when you go, and maybe a few snacks if you're going out their for the night. Sunrise on the Playa is pretty fricken awesome.

[ygmir]

I'd say halfway, maybe two-thirds, between the trash fence and the outer edge of the city. It's hard for me to say, because I've never attended Burning Man. All the way out? The darker, the deeper, the better.

I might suggest, you are almost setting yourself up for some sort of "expectation"?

No one can tell you..........just go do it. Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

[rgk]

I once sat out on a lake, struggled, prayed, tried to catch a lady, a fish, tried to fight my self, and had a religious experience. No drugs involved. At this point I just want to play a couple of games of chess.

[ygmir]

I once sat out on a lake, struggled, prayed, tried to catch a lady, a fish, tried to fight my self, and had a religious experience. No drugs involved. At this point I just want to play a couple of games of chess.

would a baby Jeebus joke be inappropriate here?

[rgk]

go for it. jeebus spoke to me through the stars. i have no idea what the fuck he said.

[Simile]

I usually spend large chunks of my nights wandering around deep playa, looking for random art and watching the lights. There are pockets of peacefulness, but really, there are art cars constantly thumping past you and random people riding by on bikes saying hey. You can't really get that far away from everything to really feel isolated for long stretches. But it is sort of fun to watch the city glow from the area around the trash fence.

On to your questions:

"scary?" - sometimes the clowns are, but aren't they always a bit scary? Actually, the scariest moment I've had at BM was out on the playa with the controlled explosion last year at dusk (Thursday night?). It seemed to just get closer and closer, but then it dissipated and I smiled.

"Exciting?" - I like how all the sounds come together with the light show. I find that rather exciting.

"Peaceful?" - It can be, as I said, but I always end up meeting people and having a chat. Or, just when you're getting into a zone, fifteen art cars with flashing lights and pounding beats will drive up, form a circle near you and have a spontaneous bbq.

"Boring?" - Burning Man's what you make of it. Deep Playa can be excruciatingly boring if you want it to be. If you're expecting to be entertained, or for that moment of spiritual zen to hit you just by going out there and, it probably won't happen (or maybe it will). I like the art out on the playa, so I usually really get into that and rarely find myself bored. If I do, I move on and find something else to stimulate my brain.

"Dangerous?" - Probably my most honest answer: yes. That is, if you are sitting out in the darkness with no lights, maybe zoning out or sleeping, you very well might get run over by one of those art cars. Luckily, as I said, the playa isn't really that vast and your body will probably be found before the event ends.

[Eric]

I go out to the deep playa at least 2 or 3 nights a year, if not more. Just sit there and look at the lights and the quiet thumpthump of the music- some of my favorite memories.

Took a friend out there last year. He went- "um. Okay. Can we go look at the Temple at those blinkie lights over there maybe to Roots maybe hit some bars..."

No-one will have the same experience. Do it, see if you like it; if you do, do it again. If you don't, well, don't do it again.

[pizzamancer]

I'd say halfway, maybe two-thirds, between the trash fence and the outer edge of the city. It's hard for me to say, because I've never attended Burning Man. All the way out? The darker, the deeper, the better.

Darker is bad. You want to stay lit so others can see you.

That said deep playa is full of cool stuff.

[CapSmashy]

Don't be a dark wad! It's a quick way to become a speed bump. Just take water with you when you go, and maybe a few snacks if you're going out their for the night. Sunrise on the Playa is pretty fricken awesome.

This post can not be emphasized enough.

We were shocked and rather appalled at the number of darkwads that came up asking us for water last year when we were out doing some star photography, including one that walked up to G and tried to help himself to his camelback hose.

[pizzamancer]

Oh OH! What smashy said, wait, I already said that.

[Igneouss]

In 2009, early in the week, there was a moderate dust storm. I took some goggles and a bottle of water and headed out when everyone else was heading in. It was fun wondering around with no more than about 50 feet of visibility and no idea where I was going. I figured I'd hit something recognizable or the trash fence eventually.

Stumbled on a random art installation and helped the lone guy for a while trying to set up in the wind.

But navigation, even semi blind was not that bad. You can hear things like the big sound camps. Maybe you stumble on one of the lamp poles and know you are on the 6:00 road or what ever. Maybe you see people moving in a certain direction and you realize that you are near the temple or the Man...

It was fun. Kind of like driving around fantasy land in a fog with no roads.

[Charlie Parker]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

[Igneouss]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

I can see getting tossed out if you can't prove you are a paying customer. Simpler to stay inside the fence

[robrob]

Can anyone relate any experience of sitting for an extended period of time in the middle of the deep playa in the middle of the night?
Is it scary? Exciting? Peaceful? Boring? Dangerous?

I went out by myself last year and found it to be fairly terrifying. granted, i was alone and in quite the state, but I attempted to challenge myself to make it all the way to the fence and I failed. I'm glad I did it though, and I will make a second attempt this year.

[capjbadger]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

Yes, you are not allowed to cross the trash fence in either direction.

-Badger

[junglesmacks]

John likes to go out deep in the playa. We take our big fur coats and a blanket to put on the ground and put our bikes on two sides of us lit with glow so we don't get run over laying there.

Are you talking in 3rd person again?

[rgk]

Can anyone relate any experience of sitting for an extended period of time in the middle of the deep playa in the middle of the night?
Is it scary? Exciting? Peaceful? Boring? Dangerous?

I went out by myself last year and found it to be fairly terrifying. granted, i was alone and in quite the state, but I attempted to challenge myself to make it all the way to the fence and I failed. I'm glad I did it though, and I will make a second attempt this year.

[ygmir]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

yes, and, at patrols discretion, you can be compelled to prove legitimate entry via ticket stub.

And, if things don't go your way, and all, you can be escorted off event site. Attitude plays a huge role in this.

As Igneous points out, better to just stay inside the fence.

YMMV

[Ugly Dougly]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

You might start by leaving your hooligan costume behind in your camp.

Recapping, a night in the deep playa, wandering spellbound between monuments is one of the greatest experiences of TTITD.

[illy dilly]

Go out as far as you like (if you cross the trash fence, though, you may well get nabbed by those stalwart, bright, and oh so attractive Perimeter folks), sit, and act accordingly.

Are you saying that going beyond the trash fence is not allowed or just that you might be mistaken for some hooligan trying to sneak in?

You might start by leaving your hooligan costume behind in your camp.

Recapping, a night in the deep playa, wandering spellbound between monuments is one of the greatest experiences of TTITD.

Sure is!
And take your time doing it. If you make a 'mission' out of it, it will seem like you are wondering forever. Go slow meander and it will seem like there is one piece of art on top of another.

O, and make sure you go pee before you head out on your journey!

[Charlie Parker]

You might start by leaving your hooligan costume behind in your camp.

Never! My hooligan costume is a cloak and a kilt.

[bobushka king]

I spent about four hours one night by myself just wandering around in the deep Playa. Probably one of the best times there. Just walking around slow as hell admiring art, taking the whole city in, looking at the stars... it's a must do for me this year

[TwoHott]

Here are a couple for you but really, the playa will give you what it wants to.

One night we were out there quite late and a darkwad guy wanders up. No gear, nothing. He kept saying how he was so thirsty. We had finished our water but I had a clear plastic water bottle with soju in it. Soju is a clear liquor like Korean vodka only not as strong. He saw this and kept asking for some. I kept telling him it was not water. He kept not believing me. Getting annoyed I finally say, "F it, here. Have some" he gulps it down like a thirsty guy. The look on his face: priceless. I've never been so tempted to say "told you so."

Another time. We walk out there to take a break from the sensory overload. Finding a quiet spot we sit down and relax. Then an art car pulls up. Then another. Then two more. We are surrounded by four art cars, lights, music, dancing. You can run, but you can't hide from the playa.

[Goz]

My favorite experience last year was deep-playa with my other half (who was a virgin, we also brought his kid, this was a huge step for both of them) this was one of the only nights we were able to leave the kid and go out, I convinced him to go deep playa with me, we sat out there hearing the distant thump and then started to notice the guys who attach the string of balloons/lights to their bikes were passing way on either side of us (that thing is so massive you don't see it coming) as we were staring at the stars this beautiful band of lights crossed over us -- it was awesome.

But I always love deep playa, day or night.